Happy Weekend

Keep a look out in Saturday's print editions (available online late tonight) for a human interest feature I wrote on a unique local USL player. I think you'll enjoy it. (I'm assuming the story will run in tomorrow's paper, but there's always a chance it could get held back for a day or two.)

Otherwise, I do not plan to rejoin you until Sunday morning after the Olympic draw.

Feel free to discuss any weekend futbol matters in the comments section.

Stratford took his first touch towards goal and, from 25 yards, smashed a shot to the far post that whizzed by a helpless, diving Andy Gruenbaum.
========
Why aren't any of the seniors do this? They need to practice and take chances. Don't wait wait wait touch touch touch until the ball is taken away.

My daughter and I had a lengthy conversation about why it's a bad idea for midfielders (or forwards) who are just 22-25 yards from the net to play the ball WIDE! It's too compact to get behind the defense at that point. Just play a combination with a target player or, better yet, put a shot on frame.

One of the biggest weaknesses of the American player, in my humble opinion, is the inability to shoot from distance. It's a lesson for all of us youth coaches -- we need to encourage our kids to fire one from outside the 18 every now and then.

Good point Doc. We rarely see US players take that monster blast that causes nightmares for keepers - you know like Scholes, Essien, all Italian strikers, Podolski, and so on and so on. When are guys take that once in a year chance it is always some ugly section tripple Z type deal. What gives? Can't be the ball. I think our players just don't know how to strike a ball well. I have never played anything to the level of a pro, but isn't that something they teach you along the way? Is it a temprament thing? Like our guys just don't have that cool calm determination on the ball?

Emilio has taken his share of grief, and deservedly. However, target players do need some space to work with, especially if they're trying to turn and get to goal. Emilio was surrounded by yellow jerseys because Columbus knew a shot from distance was not coming.

If Simms, Gallardo, Fred, Burch, et al would put some shots on frame from 25 yards and beyond, opposing MLS coaches will note that in their pre-game film sessions. THEN Emilio might find he has a bit more space in the box with which to work.

I thought a player could only play 90 minutes between reserve and first team in a given weekend. That would have ruled Dyachenko and Niell out at some point in the second half of the reserve match. Did they change the rule?

I thought a player could only play 90 minutes between reserve and first team in a given weekend. That would have ruled Dyachenko and Niell out at some point in the second half of the reserve match. Did they change the rule?

Has anyone noticed this weekend's MLS games schedule? The games are timed so you can watch every game this weekend (live) except for 1/2 of the SJ/COL game or 1/2 of the HOU/LA matchup, whichever you decide.

That game sucked last night, but at least we can watch a bunch of MLS soccer this weekend and try and forget the loss.

Goooo chicago right?
If DC can't get their act together who will be my number 2?
I hope Luciano stops sniffin glue or whatever it is that's slowing his body and mind. I suspect the Homer Donuts at 7-11...
Good job to the back line for scoring ALL the goals last night. It's gonna be a loooong week I hope them Bammas get some rest and practice shooting!
Have a great weekend Goff and please don't bring up divine intervention pre game again, it certainley revealed your faith in the team at this point in the season but sheeesh.

when i was playing in my youth, i always remember that when we had scrimmages we set up these small goals. one time in grad school i was playing and there were these perfect goals like 8 x 6. before we started it was decided that any shot over three feet high that went in would not count. when i complained, people said it would discourage people from taking long shots. it was the dummest thing i ever heard. rippers from distance are the best thing about this sport.

All this talk about striking from distance reminds me of the number one highlight of my high school athletic career -- the goal I scored in the very last game of my senior season (fall of 1981).

Funny thing was, it was intended to be a chip pass for our center forward and all-Dayton (Ohio) North leading scorer (we played a 4-3-3, which looking back amazes me, because we were REALLY bad...a 5-4-1 probably would have suited us better).

As it turned out, I was deeper in our offensive end than I thought, and when I let fly and looked up, the ball was fading back to the right (I'm left-footed) over the jumping keeper's outstretched arms, under the crossbar, and into the back of the net.

When I looked around making sure there were no flags up, I noticed I was about a yard or two outside the area.

Alas, that was the last goal of our season -- West Carrollton ultimately demolished us, 9-2. But I got my goal!

Who else is missing Boswell, Vanney, or even Erpen? Peralta has been absolutely awful the last two games. No wonder he was playing in the Argentine second division. DP on a CB? It wouldn't be the sexy move, but it would help us win games. Martinez has been solid though.

I'm also kinda missing Perkins. He is much better than Wells. Man, I miss our old team.

If you went back and watched the game again, I think you'd count at least 5 attempts to shoot from outside the box. Sure, it's not 25 out, but around 20 is close enough. Peralta had one, Namoff had one, Emilo had one, Simms had one (remember his sweet one last year?), and either Gallardo or Quaranta took a rip but had it blocked two feet away.

The problem is that none of those were on frame, that's why you don't remember them. But don't castigate DC for not taking long-range shots. They do -- just not well.

Careful, you might inspire someone to post a link to some footage of Erpen.

Posted by: tri-village | April 18, 2008 3:34 PM

Did you see the COL/SJ game tonite? (Sat.) Erpen had one of his famous, or is that infamous, missed tackles and Kamara from SJ goes on to score the 2nd goal to seal the game. Some things never change.......
on a side note, pretty small looking crowd for a beautiful night in Colorado.